Chci odbít míček přes badmintonovou síť.

to want

Breakdown of Chci odbít míček přes badmintonovou síť.

• přes: across; over
• badmintonový míček: the shuttlecock
• badmintonová síť: the badminton net

Questions & Answers about Chci odbít míček přes badmintonovou síť.

Why is there no word for I in the sentence?

Czech often omits subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb form.

• Chci = I want
• So já is not necessary.

You could say Já chci odbít míček přes badmintonovou síť, but that usually adds emphasis, like I want to do it.

What does chci mean, and what form is it?

Chci is the 1st person singular present form of chtít (to want).

So:

• chtít = to want
• chci = I want

This is a very common pattern in Czech:

• Chci jít. = I want to go.
• Chci hrát. = I want to play.

Why is odbít in the infinitive?

After chci (I want), Czech normally uses an infinitive, just like English often uses to + verb.

So:

• Chci odbít míček. = I want to hit/return the shuttlecock.

This is the same structure as:

• Chci číst. = I want to read.
• Chci spát. = I want to sleep.

What exactly does odbít mean here?